344 GOK TERRITORY TO RIVERS ROA AND YALO. 



the tall Dinka. When the river is flooded, the district on 

 either side is covered for a long distance by water, so that at 

 such times the ford would present great difficulties. The river 

 is feared on account of its vicious crocodiles. The number of 

 oysters (Mheria) in it compelled us to cross with care in 

 order to avoid their beds. 



The district of Abreal begins at the river ; it is inhabited 

 by Gok, and not by Bongo. It is a park-like district, in the 

 middle of which is the station of Lang (the Dinka name for 

 Zizyphus), which is generally called by the natives G6k-el- 

 Hassan, after its chief. This is the old well-known robber 

 nest Sherifi, as Dr. Schweinfurth calls it, and although Sherif 

 Babekr and Sherif Osman were long ago killed by Abd-es 

 Samat's famous trumpeter, Ingeleri, they took care to leave 

 numerous heirs. Danagla zeribas stretch far and wide over 

 the country, surrounded by the crops of the Bongo, who have 

 settled here, but who, although living amongst the Dinka, 

 preserve their nationality intact. As I only remained one 

 day in this station, and as my time was fully occupied by 

 official duties, I had, of course, little time to investigate the 

 state of affairs here, but the Danagla appeared to be little 

 pleased at my arrival, and held prayer-meetings to hasten my 

 departure. 



Very much against the wish of Musa Bey, a very energetic 

 official, we marched next day, and after again fording the 

 river, which had slightly fallen, we returned over the old 

 slippery road to Abiai. From there we marched along the 

 road towards Jot, and leaving the road that leads direct to 

 Bumbek to our left, our path led over open plains covered 

 with thickets and strewn with iron nodules. This circum- 

 stance showed that the country was rising. To the right, 

 a sea of grass stretched out for a long distance, occasional 

 large swamps intervening. This grassy expanse extends as 

 far as the river, forming a refuge for numerous hippopotami 

 and herds of antelopes, and in the dry season, after the grass 

 has been burnt, it is the scene of great hunts. 



After a short rest we continued our monotonous march. 

 Now and then our road was bordered by swamp, but it 

 led mostly through light wood, and then through extensive 



